A DVD Christmas

They're relatively cheap, come in shiny boxes and everybody wants one - the DVD is possibly
the perfect Christmas gift.

1. Alien Quadrilogy

Nine discs, more than 40 hours of material, two versions of each of the four Alien films, five discs of extras and a year in the making - this collector's edition sets a benchmark for film buffs. Of course, the first two films, Alien and Aliens, directed respectively by Ridley Scott and James Cameron, are the best part of the collection. There's a load of additional features, including various looks at the artwork, test footage, photo galleries and a draft screenplay. The box set also raises the question of whether we will see further neologisms such as the Rocky "quintrilogy". (Distributed by Fox)

2. Lord of the Rings: Two Towers
Limited Edition

The extended four-disc box set includes a disc on the making of the film and a Gollum figurine.(Roadshow)

3. The Complete Fawlty Towers
Gift Box

This takes the idea of the box set a step further by offering a miniature figure of Basil Fawlty thrashing his red Mini with a tree branch. Fans will recall the scene from an episode of the comedy series. Features include a director's commentary, out-takes, interviews with John Cleese, Prunella Scales and Andrew Sachs, a guest ledger, and, if the show wasn't enough to turn you off, a guide to Torquay.(Roadshow)

4. The Charlie Chaplin Collection

Each two-disc DVD set is available separately, although they are promoted together. The initial release - Modern Times, The Great Dictator, The Gold Rush and Limelight - show some of Charlie Chaplin's best work. More in the series will be released in March: The Kid, The Circus, City Lights and Monsieur Verdou. The black-and-white classics look and sound surprisingly good because picture and audio have been digitally remastered. The set includes two hours of extra material such as documentaries, deleted scenes, never-released shorts, newsreels and story notes.(Warner)

5. The Adventures of Indiana Jones
Collection

No surprise that this DVD box release is proving to be popular, even if Steven Spielberg's first film in the trilogy, Raiders of the Lost Ark, stands at least a good head and possibly a hunched shoulder above the two sequels, The Temple of Doom and The Last Crusade. None of the DVDs has any extras, but a fourth disc in the collection has mixed special features. A two-hour documentary including interviews with Spielberg and George Lucas and a look at the (non-computer generated) special effects are the best.(Paramount)

6. Kath & Kim Series 2

Surely a comedy that with time will assume cult status. The second season built on the loyal following generated by the first, but the ABC took no chances, screening each series back to back. No time has been wasted, either, in getting out the DVD. The double DVD includes the eight episodes, deleted scenes, out-takes, bloopers, goofs and behind-the-scenes stuff.(Roadshow)

7. Critics' Choice Box Set

Expect more collections such as this that look at new opportunities to box films from the distributor's catalogue. Here, the films or those starring in them are critically acclaimed. Of the four films in this set, In The Bedroom and Iris received Oscar nominations. The other two - The Quiet American, based on the Graham Greene novel, and Annie Proulx's The Shipping News - feature Academy Award winners Michael Caine, Kevin Spacey and Judi Dench.(Buena Vista)

8. There's Something More About Mary
Collector's Edition

There's something, quite clearly, about milking a box-office smash. This double-disc set of the 1998 hit comedy serves up more than six hours of extra material that is likely to stretch the biggest of fan's stamina. There's also a comprehensive behind-the-scenes diary, a look at the film's back story, cast interviews, out-takes, trailers and various small features including the tantalising Behind the Zipper.(Fox)

9. Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines
Collector's Edition

The film has none of the freshness of the original but is still likely to find its way into the libraries of fans who have Terminator and Terminator 2. If for nothing else, it is worth marvelling at the make-up department's work in keeping Schwarzenegger looking youthful. The six hours of extras include audio commentary, blooper reel, behind-the-scenes featurettes, visual effects and an introduction by Arnie.(Columbia Tristar)

10. Spider-ManSpecial Edition

The two-disc Spider-Man film includes audio commentaries, music videos, pop-up production and historical notes, behind-the-scenes footage, rehearsal and screen tests, gag reel, profiles, a 40-minute documentary and a look at Spider-Man's 40-year history.(Columbia Tristar)

11. Love is in the Air

The follow-up series by the creators of Long Way to the Top, this five-part documentary charts the history of our pop music and its influence on our lives.(Roadshow/ABC)

12. Skippy the Bush Kangaroo
35th Anniversary Collectors' Edition

It is difficult to watch Skippy and not feel transported to happier, simpler times.(AV Channel)

13. Charlie's Angels
Collectors' Edition

The collectors' edition includes both films, Charlie's Angels and Full Throttle, and a disc's worth of the '70s TV show, if you want to see where it all started. Mostly it's all candy for the eyes and ears.(Columbia Tristar)

14. Casablanca 60th Anniversary

That a 60th anniversary edition has been released is proof of Casablanca's durability. Warner has loaded several features, including an introduction by Humphrey Bogart's widow, Lauren Bacall, commentary by film critic Roger Ebert and historian Rudy Behlmer, deleted scenes, documentaries and a 1943 radio adaptation.(Warner)

15. Planet of the Apes
Special Edition Box Set

The six-disc box set brings together the five films made over five years from 1968. The original film with Charlton Heston and Roddy McDowall is a standout, with the sequels of varying merit.(Fox)

16. Jackass Box Set

If you can stomach this much puerility, this set includes Jackass the Movie and volumes two and three of the TV series.(Paramount)

17. Monty Python's Meaning of Life
Special Edition

The Python stable's last full-length feature comes just in time for Christmas. Bonus material includes a commentary from director Terry Gilliam, three deleted scenes, an introduction from Eric Idle, several small features and The Meaning of Making the Meaning of Life.(Universal)

18. Bowling for Columbine
double-disc edition

Independent filmmaker and professional stirrer Michael Moore pulled off an Oscar this year for best documentary and the jury prize at last year's Cannes Film Festival for this documentary on the United States' gun culture. The DVD includes his Oscar acceptance speech, a trip back to Denver and Littleton six months on, a photo gallery, action guide and one for teachers, interviews with Moore and a video clip of Fight Song by Marilyn Manson, who appears in the documentary sounding far more intelligent than he looks.(AV Channel)

19. After the Deluge

Rated as one of the best local TV shows this year, the miniseries about a father and his three sons reaching crossroads in their lives was nominated for eight AFI awards.(AV Channel)

20. Piglet's Big Movie

This latest adventure from the Hundred-Acre Wood puts its smallest and most fearful resident centre stage. Although the subtlety of A.A. Milne's original stories is lost in Disney's more direct, folksy style of narrative, the idea of big things being presented in small packages fits both tellings.(Buena Vista)